Ryerson submitted
Borussia Dortmund has shaken unbeaten league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, but not brought them down. Victor Boniface saved the “Werkself” from their first defeat in the 20th game of the season with his goal in the 79th minute at 1-1 (0-1) on Sunday and ensured that they maintained a ten-point lead over runner-up Dortmund continues to exist. This means that the Werkself remain the main rival in the title fight for series champions FC Bayern Munich, who now have three points less after their canceled game against Union Berlin. However, Bayer gave up points again for the first time after 14 competitive game wins in a row.
The Norwegian full-back Julian Ryerson (5th) gave Dortmund an early lead five days after the 3-1 coup in the Champions League at top Italian club AC Milan. BVB’s defensive bulwark, organized by the once again outstanding Mats Hummels, lasted 74 minutes, then Boniface scored. The next groundbreaking games for BVB are in the cup against surprise team Stuttgart and in the championship against cup winners RB Leipzig.
Both teams started the game with a clear plan, and after less than five minutes the distribution of roles became even clearer. After BVB had the ball in their own ranks for a long time and stopped two attempts to attack, Marco Reus played the through ball, Niclas Füllkrug laid it down as he fell and Ryerson gave Lukas Hradecky no chance. For the first time this season, Leverkusen was behind at home.
And the playing conditions were clear from that moment onwards. BVB were unusually deep, but Hummels acted in an organized but disciplined manner and closed the spaces well with the defensive self-image from the Milan victory. Leverkusen, who started with the same starting eleven for the ninth time on matchday 13, tried to find gaps with high possession of the ball and constant lateral shifts, but this was rarely successful at the beginning.
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Bayer often broke through on the wings, especially on the right via Jeremie Frimpong, but the penalty area was usually not adequately occupied. But the equalizer seemed to fall after all when Frimpong’s cross rushed through almost the entire penalty area and Wirtz hit the crossbar with a turning shot (45th + 1). A dream goal – but it didn’t count because Victor Boniface was previously offside. The pressure had increased and BVB were now happy to come into the break unscathed. Another flaw: Dortmund had not launched a dangerous counterattack since the opening goal. And in the first one shortly after the break, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens allowed Odilon Kossounou to run past him (51′).
Defensively, the guests looked as solid after the break as they had in the first half hour. And Hummels became more and more of a tower in the battle. The scene in the 62nd minute was symbolic when he blocked a shot from Argentine world champion Exequiel Palacios at the very last second. But that couldn’t last forever. And Alonso proved to be lucky. The Spaniard brought on striker Patrik Schick, who prepared the equalizer seconds later.
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